Method for treatment of low-boiling hydrocarbons



VVENTOH er v Ano/mim nl Ill Il w.V F. DowNs METHOD FOR TREATMENT OF LOWBOILING HYDROCARBONS Filed May 6, 1922 `Jan. 5 1926.

Patented Jan. 5, 1926.

UNITED STATES PA v1,568,812 TENT oFFlCE.

WILLAM F. DOWNS, 031 CHATHAM, NEW JERSEY; MARY GARDNER IOWNS ADMIN-ISTRATRIX 0F SAU) WILAM F. DOWNS, DECEASED..

METHOD FOB TRETMENT OF LOW-BOLENG- HYDROCARBONS.

Application tied May e,

To all whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F.' Downs, a citizen of the United States,and resident of Chatham, in the county of Morris and State of NewJersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in liflethodsfor Treatment oi Low-Boiling Hydrocai proved `process I make use manyyears,

- aluminum chloride,

bons, of which the following is a speciiication.

The main object of the present invention is to increase the yield andimprove the quality of gasoline obtained from hydrocarbon mixtures. Incarrying out my imof anhydrous aluminum or other metallic chlorides.

The fact that anhydrous aluminum chloride is a valuable agent in thetreatment of mineral oils has been well known for although there is nota unanimity of opinion as to the exact character or nature of thephysical or chemical action by which it renders the treated hydrocarbonclean and sweet. By some form or forms of reaction there results areduction in the amount of unsaturated compounds in the mixture. So faras .ll know, the various treatments of. hydrocarbons by anhydrousaluminum chloride which have heretofore been employed involvedtheapplication of heat to a mixturev of the oil and the aluminum chloride.It low boiling hydrocarbons are to be producedthis heating has beencarried to such a point that the low boiling oils are distilled from themixture. The heating of the oil and aluminum chloride mixture results ina formation or separation of a tarry or coke-like residue rich incarbon. 011e objection which has heretofore been encountered is the highcostei the aluminum chloride and the fact that it loses its eiiiciencyby becoming coated by or entangled with carbon or carbonaceous depositor residue. 'lhe recovery of theY aluminum chloride from this mixtureand the rendering oi it available or further use is lan operationinvolving considerable expense. p

In carrying out my improved .process l do not distill the low boilinghydrocarbon from a liquid containing t e anhydrous but l bring the hydrocarbon vapors cr gases into contact with the anhydrous chloridemaintained at a temperature below the point of volatilization otaluminum chloride or compounds -consideredas low boiling or combined.with the Vtree.

vapors in 1922. Serial No. 553,850.

carbonaceous residue or deposit in the still. l

The vapors or gases to be treated may be obtained from various diderentsources or combinations of sources, but for the produc-v ing of gasolinethey are delivered at a temperature not materially above 500,F., so

that the vapors of higher boilingpoint constituents are condensed orseparated out before the vapors reach the aluminum chloride. For thepurpose of this case lI assume the temperature of about 500o F.,

as the dividing point between what may be oint oils and high boilingpoint oils. T e temperature, ofthe incoming gases or vapors maybemaintained as much below 500 F. as de sired, depending upon `the boilingpoint of the desired iinal product, and the filter lbed of aluminumchloride may be maintained at any desired temperature, also dependingupon the .desired boiling point for the final product. Obviously bymaintaining the aluminum chloride filter bed at a comparatively hightemperature the lowest boiling point constituents may pass throughuncondensed.

The aluminum chloride with which the tol vapors come in contact acts toeffect a re- 'Y duction in the amount of unsaturated compounds, therebyimproving the quality and lf believe .it acts to cause a combining ofsome of the lighter saturated and unsaturated compounds to produce asaturated. compound in the range ot boiling1 points designatedcommercially as gasoline. My investigations show that the condensingofthe the presence of the aluminum chloride increases l believe this isdue to a catalytic action.

'The vahiminrnn chloride a parently re duces the vapor tension of theydrocarbons and brings about reactions similar to those which vtaleeplace when vapors resulting from a high tem erature or cracking proceare subjected to igh pressure. The vapors,

the yield of gasoline and t i not' which vary as to their condition ofsaturation and formula of relation of hydrogen to carbon, apparentlyrearrange their molecular structure and the liquids whichcondense arelargely gasoline of the best type.

and improvement in the quality of the gaso-A line which may be producedfrom ahigh boiling hydrocarbon, without the hazard and expense of highpressure and without the high cost due to the rapid loss of eiiiciencyof the aluminum chlorideand to the expensive regeneration processinvolved where the-aluminum chloride is used directly in the still,or ina secondary vessel from which the liquid is distilled.

If the vapors which are to be treated are those which are obtained froma high boiling point oil, the still in which the latter is heated may beprovided' with a reflux condenser or other means whereby the vapor iscooled down to approximately 500 F. and the higher boiling pointconstituents ot the vapor are separated out or returned to the still.The vapors may be produced from the heating of a low boilingrhydrocarbon where it is merely desired to treat suoli oil and render itclean and sweet, or the vapors may include casing head gas or. a mixtureof gases or hydrocarbon vapors from various sources or gases or vaporsfrom ay cracking process or from any other process. They are preferablyas dry as possible to prevent the loss of eiiiciency of the aluminumchloride by its absorption of the water vapor.

In order to insure the porosity of the filter bed or other body of theanhydrous aluminum chloride or 4other metallic chlorides, I have foundit advantageous to mix in said bed or body inert substances. 'A mixtureof silica and graphite has been found very satisfactory for thispurpose.

My improved process may be carried out in various different forms oi.apparatus. One such form and which includes structural features `alsoincluded in my invention is shown in the accompanyingr draivings. Inthese drawings:

Fig. 1 is a central vertical section through the apparatus, and

Figs. 2 and 3 are transverse sections on the lines 2 2 and 3-*3respectively of Fig. 1.

Itwill of course be evident that the apparatus illustrated is merely anexample of an apparatus in which the process may be carried out, andthat the action is not dependent upon the shape or size of the apparatus as a whole nor the number nor dimension or proportion of thefilter beds.

In the apparatus illustrated there is provided a casing 10 having a pairof substantially horizontal transverse partitions 11 and 12 dividing theinterior of the casing into upper, intermediate and lower compartmentsor chambers 13, 14 and 15. The tivo partitions 11 and 12 are connectedby tubuar members 16 which serve to carry the filter beds and form.passages between the upper chamber 13 and the lower chamber 15. Thevapors to be treated are admitted to the upper chamber` 13 through asuitable inlet 17 and the final product is drawn ofi through an outlet18 from the lower compartment 15. The intermediate compartment 14 whichsurrounds the tubes 16 and which is out of direct communication with thepath for the hydrocarbon vapors or liquid, serves to receive or containa iemperature'controllinp liquid or gas. This chamber 14 may have one ormore inlets 19 and one or more outlets 20 tor the teinperaturecontrolling medium. The anhydrous aluminum chloride or other metallicchloride or mixtures of the same. and preferably with an inertsubstance. forms the filter beds 21 which are within the tubes 16. Thisporous mass or filter bed is supported on screens or perforatedpartitions 22. which latter may be carried by or supported on sleeves ortubes 23 extending through thelower compartment 15. and supported onhremovable cover plates 24. These tubes 23 may have perforations withinVthe compartment 15 for the cscapeC liquid to the latter. The top wallof the casingr may have openings 25 opposite to the ends of thc severalfilter beds. and these may be closed by covers 26. Then it is desired toremove 'the filter bed and substitute fresh material. the lower coverplates 24 and the tubes 23 may be removed. and the filter bed materialwill be 'free to drop out. It it has become raked it may be forced outfrom above b v removing the cover plates 26. Fresh material may beinserted i'rom the top upon the replacing oi the tubes 23 and coverplates 21. All of thc joints should be tight enough to exclude air fromthe apparatus and to prevent lealeagc between the chamber ll and thechainbers or passages `for the hydrocarbon.

The tubes 16 are shown as being filled to the top with the material, butit will of course be evident that they may be filled to any desiredlevel depending upon the purity or activity of the ingredients thecharacter of the vapor or vapors acted upon, and the temperaturemaintained. The temperature of the medium in the chamber 14- should bebelow the volatilizing'point of the aluminum chloride or compounds ofthe aluminum chloride and hydrocarbon if any such be formed, and thistemperature may be as much below such4 volatilizing temperature asdesired, depending uponthe rapidity with whichY it is desired toremoveheat from Y the vapors. The desired temperaturemay 5 beobtainedbyvarying the 'rapidity `-of circulation of the .cooling mediumas well as by varying the temperature of the medium l lf. p I In theoperation ofthe a paratus to `ro-v duce gasohne, the-hydrocar on vaporsrom thedistilling apparatus or other source, and .at a tem erature notexceeding 500 F., are admitte inlet 17, and are distributed tothevarious lter bed chambers. These' vaporsl there come in contact with theanhydrous aluminum chloride which causes a reductionin -the volume ofthe vapors andan alteration to increase the degree of saturation of theY20 compounds.

The' condensationy is, also caused by the conduction of heat through theWalls of the tubes to the coolin medium.

The condensate escapes through t e screens 22 and tubes 23 to thechamberl, and may 25 be drawn 'of from the latter' through the outlet 18to any suitable storage tank.

The-aluminum chloride .has a very much loxlilgllr life `than whenused-directlyin the bo' g or heated oil, but will require re- !0lacement orppuriiication from time to time' ue to moisture, sulphurcompound or other impurities which may be brought to it with the vaporsor due to clogging of the poresj` ofthe mass which interferes with free'ow lof the :vapors or liquids andthe most eiiicient contact of theactive mass therewith.

' Having thus describedmy invention, what I claim as new and desiretosecure by Letl ters Patent-is:-.

improvin vapors o hydrocarbon oils havin a boiling point below 500 F.,and in whic the component parts vary as to their ratios of hyofsaturation, said process consisting in condensing `said vapors in theresence of 'a porous mass containing -anhy rous metallic chlorides andcontinuously withdrawing the liuid condensate froml contact with thesaid c oride."

to. the chamber 13 through the .which comprises boiling the aluminumchlori e maintained su stantiaily -over 500 F., 'into contact wit YAdrain away from the aluminum chloride as ,-1. The process ofvincreasing the yield and' the quality .of gasoline from drogen tocarbon, and as toiu their condition i filtering said vapors through andcon ena--y -ing them in a porous bed containing anh drous aluminumchloride and continuous y withdrawing the liquid condensate from contactwith the said chloride.

3. The process of convertin high hydrocarbons vinto low'boilingydrocarbons,` which comprises boilin the-high boiling. liydrocarbons,cooling -t e vapors to 500 se arating the condensate, passin the unconensed vapors into contact wit an hydrous aluminum chloride condensinf`said va ors while in contact with said chfhride, y an -immediatelywithdrawingthe liquid condensate so formed. L

4. The process of convertin' high boiling -f drocarbons, igh boiling hdrocarbons, cooling the vapors to. 500

separating'the' condensate, and condensing the remamin vapors in theresence of toning hydrocarbons intol low boiling free of liquidresulting from such condensa-L ition.

5. The process of producing llow boiling hydrocarbons, which consists 1ndelivering `hydrocarbonvapors ata tem eraturey not l anhydrousy aluminumchloride maintained at a temperasupported. that the condensate 'is freefast as `formed. .v ,l

6..1he process of producing low boiling ,i hydrocarbons which includesVpassing the vapors 'thereof through and condensing them in a ilter4 bedincluding aluminum 'es -chloride and an inertsubstance so supported.

that the condensatel is free'to away ture below its point oflvolatilizationfand so; 'A

of 'l r. DowNs. Y' i

